The drinks

The food

Our Review

Tell us about your first impressions when you arrived.Once you walk through the Island Shangri-La's entrance, flanked by dramatic floor-to-ceiling shelves of pickles and wine, you arrive in the minimalist open-plan dining room, filled with meticulously displayed, enticing buffets and live-cooking stations.

What was the crowd like?Hongkongers love a buffet, and Cafe Too is among the city's most popular. Expect to see multigenerational families who've opted out of dim sum brunch, as well as groups of friends catching up over a long, relaxed meal.

What should we be drinking?Juices are offered at the buffet stations, and some basic drinks, such as coffee or tea, are included in the price.

Main event: the food. Give us the lowdown—especially what not to miss.As one of Hong Kong's most popular hotel buffets, the variety of food is astounding. Apart from an impressive cold seafood section—with whole lobsters, crabs, shrimp, clams, and sashimi—the Asian food offerings are particularly strong. The theme changes from time to time, but popular choices include the noodle station, where you can customize your bowl, and meats cooked to order on the teppan (Japanese flat top). Curries, Chinese tonic soups, and dim sum also make regular appearances. For dessert, expect a generous spread: The hotel is famous for traditional French pastries like mille-feuille, but if you'd like to finish on a healthy note, there's always fresh fruit.

And how did the front-of-house folks treat you?Staff are friendly and efficient at essential tasks (i.e. clearing your table). The cooks at the live cooking stations are very accommodating and happy to customize your plate.

What’s the real-real on why we’re coming here?Given the amount of choice, the quality of the food, and the five-star hotel setting, Cafe Too is a steal. Come any time you feel like it, even with a group.